Chapter 41
Zayden walked out of the police station, his strides steady but slow, as if he was processing the whirlwind of events that had led him there in the first place. The sunlight hit his face, and he squinted, shielding his eyes. Waiting near the car, Victoria stood anxiously, wringing her hands. She had insisted on picking him up personally, despite the emotional weight of everything that had happened.
When Zayden spotted her, a flicker of emotion crossed his face—relief, frustration, and something unreadable. He approached her, his footsteps measured, while Victoria took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she needed to say.
“Zayden,” she began softly, her voice almost drowned out by the noise of the street.
He stopped a few feet away from her, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat. “Victoria,” he replied, his tone neutral.
Her heart ached at the guardedness in his voice. She stepped closer, hesitating before reaching out. “I… I’m so sorry. For everything. For doubting you, for not fighting harder to prove your innocence. I should’ve known better.”
Zayden’s jaw tightened, his dark eyes searching hers. “I understand why you doubted me. Finding a body in someone’s cellar isn’t exactly a small misunderstanding.”
“But I should have trusted you,” Victoria said firmly, her voice breaking slightly. “You’ve been nothing but good to me, Zayden. I let fear and confusion cloud my judgment. And I’m so, so sorry.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not your fault, Victoria. Rebecca and whoever else orchestrated this did everything they could to make me look guilty. It worked—for a while.”
She shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes. “I should have believed you. I should have fought harder for you.”
Zayden’s expression softened, and he stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
Victoria blinked back tears, offering him a small, tentative smile. “You’re too forgiving.”
“And you’re too hard on yourself,” Zayden replied, his lips twitching upward. “But we’ll work on that.”
She let out a small laugh, relief washing over her. “Thank you. For everything.”
He looked at her for a moment, his gaze steady. “Let’s just make sure the people who did this pay for what they’ve done.”
Victoria nodded. “They will. Starting with Selena.”
Back at Kane Industries, Selena was doing everything in her power to keep a grip on the company. She paced in the boardroom, her phone pressed to her ear, barking orders to a legal team that sounded increasingly nervous.
“I don’t care what the court says,” Selena snapped. “This is my company. I’ve worked too hard to let it slip away because of Damian’s stupidity.”
She slammed the phone onto the table, her chest heaving as she turned to face the board members seated around her. “Let’s be clear,” she began, her tone sharp. “Whatever Damian did has nothing to do with me. I am fully capable of running this company, and I expect your loyalty.”
The board members exchanged uneasy glances, but before anyone could respond, the door swung open. Victoria walked in, her head held high, with Zayden by her side.
“Bold words, Selena,” Victoria said coolly, her voice carrying across the room. “But I’m afraid your little speech won’t matter for much longer.”
Selena’s eyes narrowed as she stepped toward Victoria. “What the hell are you doing here? Haven’t you caused enough damage?”
“I’m not the one causing damage,” Victoria replied, her tone calm but cutting. “That would be you and Damian. And now that Damian’s been arrested, it’s only a matter of time before your role in this mess comes to light.”
Selena scoffed, folding her arms. “Please. Damian might be a fool, but I had nothing to do with his schemes. If anyone should be worried about their reputation, it’s you.”
Victoria smirked, glancing at Zayden, who stood silently beside her, his presence steady and reassuring. “Funny you should say that,” Victoria said, turning back to Selena. “Because Damian’s already named you as an accomplice in his embezzlement scheme.”
Selena froze, her eyes widening slightly. “What are you talking about?”
“Damian cut a deal with the authorities,” Victoria explained, her voice steady. “He’s pointing the finger at you to save himself. And given the evidence Tobias uncovered, it won’t be long before you’re facing charges too.”
The boardroom fell silent, the weight of Victoria’s words settling over everyone. Selena’s composure cracked, her face twisting with a mix of disbelief and rage.
“That bastard!” she hissed, slamming her fist onto the table. “He’s trying to drag me down with him? After everything I’ve done for him?”
Victoria tilted her head, her expression almost pitying. “You shouldn’t be surprised, Selena. Damian’s always been willing to betray anyone to save himself. You were just another pawn in his game.”
Selena glared at her, but the fire in her eyes was dimmer now, replaced by the creeping realization that her grip on power was slipping.
One of the board members cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. “Ms. Kane,” he said cautiously, “if these allegations are true, the board cannot continue to support you.”
Selena whipped around to face him, her voice rising. “You can’t do this! I’ve dedicated my life to this company!”
“And in doing so, you’ve destroyed it,” Victoria interjected. “The only way forward is to clean house. Starting with you.”
Selena’s hands clenched into fists, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she stormed out of the room, her heels clicking furiously against the floor.
As the door slammed shut behind her, Victoria turned to the board. “This company deserves better. And together, we’re going to rebuild it.”
The board members nodded, their faces filled with a mix of relief and determination.
Zayden placed a hand on Victoria’s shoulder, leaning in slightly. “You handled that well.”
Victoria glanced at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. But this is just the beginning.”
